Ooklah The Moc was formed in 1997 playing a mix of roots reggae and hardcore. Through the years and several lineup changes, Ooklah became a strictly roots dub reggae band and reached its present 8-person lineup in 2000. Instrumentation consists of Ryan 'Jah Gumby' Murakami on bass, John 'Barrucus' Davis on drums, Asher Philippart on lead, dub, and rhythm guitars, Gary Nakano on trumpet and flugelhorn, Tony Bush on trombone, and the vocal trio of Jimbo 'Ras Bird' LaPierre, 'Sista Micky' Huihui, and Nick 'Kali' Navales on lead and background vocal mixes.
Ooklah The Moc is at its best live and direct in concert and has played crazy shows all over O'ahu, Maui, Kaua'i, and the Big Island, and has also opened for many international artists such as Michael Rose, many of the Marley Ohana, ASWAD, Yami Bolo, Maacho, Wailing Souls, Gregory Isaacs, Long Beach Shortbus, Slightly Stoopid and played with top local bands such as Moemoea, Dread Ashanti, Natural Vibrations, THC, Maacho, BET, Go Jimmy Go, Pepper, FIJI, Humble Soul, Warsaw, and many others.